Yankees reportedly interested in Taijuan Walker

The trade deadline is just around the corner, and it appears the rumor mill is starting up. MLB’s Jon Morosi reports that the Yankees have expressed interest in Mariners right-hander Taijuan Walker.

The Yankees, like many clubs around the majors, have sustained significant injuries to their pitching staff. Luis Severino was lost before the season started, and in recent weeks, James Paxton, Zack Britton, and Tommy Kahnle have hit the IL. The team will likely inquire on both starting and relief arms across the league.

Walker has started five games in what’s thus far been a decent bounceback season in Seattle. The 28-year-old missed almost all of 2018 and 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He currently sports a 4.00 ERA, running an 8.3 K/9 rate against a 2.7 BB/9 rate. For more detail on Walker, be sure to check out our trade target profile of him from yesterday.

A move for Walker certainly wouldn’t be a blockbluster, not with his injury history, and modest record of success in a small sample this year. He’s an interesting target, though, as Walker has long tantalized with his talent, showing glimpses of excellence before hitting the operating table time and again.

The Yankees and Mariners have consummated a number of swaps in the past few years, among them the deal that brought Paxton to New York, as well as last year’s Edwin Encarnacion trade. We’ll keep you updated if another Dipoto-Cashman special is on the horizon.